Top 40 Exam Questions for Captains (Masters) on Commercial Ships

Master your final command exam with this essential guide covering the top 40 exam questions for Captains on commercial ships. Gain insights, regulatory references, and real-world examples to help you pass with confidence.

Taking the final step to become a ship’s Master isn’t just a career milestone — it’s a transformation of responsibility. Captains, under STCW Regulation II/2, are expected to lead not only the navigation and safety of a vessel but also its legal, commercial, and ethical integrity. Preparing for Master’s orals or written examinations can be daunting — but knowing what to expect, why each question matters, and how to answer effectively can give any candidate the confidence to succeed.

This guide presents 40 of the most commonly asked exam questions for Captains (Masters) on merchant ships, supported by current regulations, authoritative sources, and practical scenarios. Whether you’re preparing under the UK MCA, AMSA, DG Shipping, Transport Canada, or another flag, this resource is tailored to meet international standards.

Why Exam Preparation for Captains Matters in Today’s Maritime World

Captains hold the highest legal and operational authority aboard ships. Their decisions impact international trade, human lives, marine ecosystems, and shipowner liabilities. According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), an estimated 80–90% of marine accidents are directly or indirectly caused by human factors, many involving decisions taken at the command level.

In an age of environmental accountability (e.g., EEXI, CII, SEEMP II), cyber security risks, and regulatory scrutiny (Port State Control, SIRE 2.0, Paris MoU), Masters must demonstrate not just knowledge — but leadership and judgment.

Core Competency Areas for Master’s Oral and Written Exams

Legal Responsibilities and International Conventions

  1. What are the Master’s legal obligations under SOLAS during emergencies?
    • Must ensure safety of life, initiate muster, and coordinate abandon ship if needed; SOLAS Chapter III.
  2. What is the significance of the Master’s overriding authority under ISM?
    • Clause 5 of ISM Code grants authority to deviate from policy for safety or environmental protection.
  3. How does the Hague-Visby Rules apply to the shipowner’s liability?
    • Covers carriage of goods by sea; limits liability unless proven unseaworthy.
  4. What are your obligations during a MARPOL violation at sea?
    • Report to Flag and Coastal State, document, retain samples (Annex I, VI), consult P&I Club.
  5. What are the steps if the ship is detained during Port State Control?
    • Cooperate fully, review deficiency report, notify company, implement rectifications.

Navigation and Safety

  1. How do you handle a near-miss in congested waters?
    • Log incident, debrief bridge team, review passage plan, report under SMS.
  2. What’s the Master’s role in bridge team management?
    • Leadership, workload distribution, situation awareness (IMO Model Course 1.39).
  3. How do you manage navigation during critical pilotage?
    • Confirm passage plan with pilot, maintain own situational awareness, avoid over-reliance on pilot.
  4. Explain your approach to ECDIS use at Master level.
    • Confirm type-specific training, check ENC updates, verify safety settings, require visual/radar cross-checks.
  5. What actions would you take after a grounding incident?
  • Stop engines, assess damage, sound tanks, inform authorities, start investigation, preserve evidence.

Leadership, HR, and Crew Welfare

  1. How do you handle disputes among senior officers?
  • Mediate privately, ensure professionalism, document issues, escalate if unresolved.
  1. What is the MLC 2006 requirement for seafarer complaints?
  • Must provide an onboard complaint procedure; right to file without retaliation (Regulation 5.1.5).
  1. How do you ensure minimum rest hours compliance?
  • Monitor daily logs, conduct random checks, adjust watch schedules as per STCW Section A-VIII/1.
  1. What is your approach to cultural diversity on board?
  • Promote inclusion, use common working language (usually English), offer cross-cultural briefings.
  1. How do you conduct effective safety meetings?
  • Discuss recent drills/incidents, encourage open dialogue, record minutes, follow up on actions.

Commercial Operations and Charter Party

  1. What does the phrase ‘Master’s due diligence’ mean in cargo claims?
  • Taking all reasonable steps to ensure safe carriage — includes stowage, securing, ventilation.
  1. How do you calculate laytime and demurrage under a time charter?
  • Refer to CP clauses, use port logs, NOR acceptance time, working hours.
  1. What is a Letter of Indemnity (LOI)?
  • A legal guarantee to protect shipowners if releasing cargo without a Bill of Lading.
  1. Describe the Master’s role in issuing a protest.
  • Lodge at the port notary/consulate for events affecting voyage (e.g., weather delays, cargo damage).
  1. How do you ensure safe bunkering operations under time pressure?
  • Pre-bunkering checklist, supervise hose connection, communication with bunker barge, monitor tanks.

Environmental Compliance and Risk Management

  1. What are the new IMO 2023 GHG reduction requirements for ships?
  • Comply with EEXI (design efficiency), CII (carbon intensity index), and updated SEEMP.
  1. How do you handle ballast water exchange in a congested coastal area?
  • Evaluate feasibility, consider treatment instead, follow BWM Convention.
  1. What is the SOPEP, and how do you use it?
  • Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan; guides actions in case of oil spill — required under MARPOL Annex I.
  1. What is the procedure during an accidental discharge in port?
  • Stop discharge, inform port/state authorities, contain spill, implement SOPEP, notify company.
  1. How do you conduct environmental risk assessments before port calls?
  • Check environmental sensitivity, local rules, operational limits, prepare contingency plans.

Emergency Response and Contingency Planning

  1. What are the key elements of the Shipboard Emergency Plan?
  • Fire, collision, grounding, pollution, piracy — with procedures, crew roles, contact lists.
  1. How would you respond to a cyberattack on navigation systems?
  • Switch to manual backup, isolate infected systems, inform CSO, report under ISPS.
  1. What are the IMO recommendations for piracy risk areas?
  • BMP5, register with UKMTO/MSCHOA, citadel readiness, crew drills, AIS discretion.
  1. How do you manage crew evacuation during fire in accommodation?
  • Sound alarm, use emergency lighting, lead evacuation to safe zones or muster stations.
  1. Describe the GMDSS distress protocol in a multi-system failure.
  • Use any available system: VHF DSC, INMARSAT-C, EPIRB, SART; notify RCC manually if needed.

Certification, PSC, Vetting, and Audit Readiness

  1. What is the Master’s role during PSC inspections?
  • Welcome inspector, assign liaison officer, ensure document availability, respond to deficiencies.
  1. What documentation must be up-to-date for a SIRE vetting inspection?
  • SMS manuals, drill records, cargo documents, certificates, maintenance logs.
  1. How do you prepare for an external ISM audit?
  • Conduct internal audit, review non-conformities, hold drills, brief crew.
  1. What is the significance of the Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR)?
  • Historical ship data as per SOLAS XI-1/5; helps prevent ship identity fraud.
  1. What action is required if the vessel’s DOC is withdrawn by the company?
  • Ship cannot operate commercially; notify Flag and seek resolution immediately.

Ship Security, ISPS Code, and Port Security

  1. What is the difference between SSP and CSO?
  • SSP: Ship Security Plan; CSO: Company Security Officer responsible for its implementation.
  1. Describe the actions during a Security Level 2 upgrade.
  • Increase patrols, limit access, inform crew, secure shipboard areas, notify authorities.
  1. What is a Declaration of Security (DoS)?
  • Document detailing security responsibilities between ship and port; required at Level 2/3.
  1. How do you handle stowaways discovered after departure?
  • Confine, treat humanely, report to Flag and Coastal State, document as per ISPS/IMO.
  1. What are the SOLAS requirements for Ship Security Alerts?
  • Dual system (bridge + remote), silent alert to CSO or Flag — SOLAS XI-2/6.

Real-World Cases and Lessons for Masters

In 2022, a chemical tanker grounded while navigating under pilotage. MAIB’s investigation found that the Master deferred excessively to the pilot without verifying the route. The failure to exercise command presence led to costly damage and delays. In another case, a Master was criminally prosecuted after a spill from poor bunkering procedures.

These cases underline the stakes involved. Every exam question could be a future real-life scenario.

FAQ

What is the passing rate for Master orals?
Varies by country; typically between 60%–75%. Mock exams and simulator assessments improve success.

Are all questions theoretical?
No. Most involve applied knowledge, critical thinking, and real-time situational judgment.

Should I memorize regulations?
Yes — but more importantly, know how to apply them practically.

How do I stay calm during oral exams?
Practice with peers, simulate real cases, pause before answering, and clarify if unsure.

Are simulator assessments part of the exam?
Yes, increasingly so. Many flag states now require bridge simulators for real-world testing.

Conclusion

The journey to Master is one of both technical mastery and leadership evolution. As the final decision-maker on board, your knowledge must be broad, your thinking sharp, and your integrity constant. This guide is a tool — but the responsibility is yours to embrace.

Study not just to pass, but to command.

References

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